Together we can help find a cure for ADEM

 Acute disseminated encephalomyelitis (ADEM) is characterized by a brief but widespread attack of inflammation in the brain and spinal cord that damages myelin – the protective covering of nerve fibers.  ADEM often follows viral or bacterial infections, or less often, vaccination for measles, mumps, or rubella.  The symptoms of ADEM appear rapidly, beginning with encephalitis-like symptoms such as fever, fatigue, headache, nausea and vomiting, and in the most severe cases, seizures and coma.  ADEM typically damages white matter (brain tissue that takes its name from the white color of myelin), leading to neurological symptoms such as visual loss (due to inflammation of the optic nerve) in one or both eyes, weakness even to the point of paralysis, and difficulty coordinating voluntary muscle movements (such as those used in walking).  ADEM is sometimes misdiagnosed as a severe first attack of multiple sclerosis (MS), since the symptoms and the appearance of the white matter injury on brain imaging may be similar.  However, ADEM has several features which differentiate it from MS.  First, unlike MS patients, persons with ADEM will have rapid onset of fever, a history of recent infection or immunization, and some degree of impairment of consciousness, perhaps even coma; these features are not typically seen in MS.  Children are more likely than adults to have ADEM, whereas MS is a rare diagnosis in children.  In addition, ADEM usually consists of a single episode or attack of widespread myelin damage, while MS features many attacks over the course of time. Doctors will often use imaging techniques, such as MRI (magnetic resonance imaging), to search for old and new lesions (areas of damage) on the brain.  The presence of older brain lesions on MRI suggest that the condition may be MS rather than ADEM, since MS can cause brain lesions before symptoms become obvious.  In rare situations, a brain biopsy may be necessary to differentiate between ADEM and some other diseases that involve inflammation and damage to myelin.

https://www.ninds.nih.gov/Disorders/All-Disorders/Acute-Disseminated-Encephalomyelitis-Information-Page

 The location of the inflammation (swelling) within the brain, spinal cord and optic nerves determines what symptoms of acute disseminated encephalomyelitis (ADEM) occur, including:

• Fever
• Headache (can be prolonged and severe in children)
• Nausea and vomiting
• Neurological changes including
  • Confusion, drowsiness or coma
  • Weakness in the arms or legs
  • Unsteady walk (ataxia)
  • Numbness or tingling (sensory changes)
  • Trouble with vision, often in both eyes (optic neuritis)
  • Seizures
  • Trouble swallowing

The process of diagnosis includes:

• A medical history including recent history of infection or vaccination
• A neurological examination with some of the above findings (symptoms)
• Brain and spinal cord magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scans
• A lumbar puncture (spinal tap) to make sure there is no infection in the spinal fluid such as meningitis or encephalitis
• Blood tests to look for infectious triggers and for other conditions that can be confused with ADEM

https://www.nationalmssociety.org/What-is-MS/Related-Conditions/Acute-Disseminated-Encephalomyelitis-(ADEM)/Symptoms-and-Diagnosis